Toyota hitting 1 million sales mark for Prius plug-in

Toyota Motor Corporation is hoping for 1 million units sale over the model cycle of new Prius gasoline hybrid cars. Company officials announced that The chief engineer of the new plug-in version over its product life cycle, saying the vehicle is set to become its showpiece “eco” car in the next decade or so.

From the first generation of the conventional Prius models, almost 20 years ago, sales growth was strong: it was around 100,000 units for first generation launched in 1997, followed by 1 million for the next generation from 2003 and 2.5 million for the following generation from 2009. At the moment according to its official numbers Japanese automaker owns more than 80 percent of the global market share, and 73 percent in the U.S.

The new plug-in Prius launches in Japan, North America and Europe in the coming months

Automaker is hoping that they will success to replicate the pattern of the sales growth of the conventional Prius to the plug-in version which launches in Japan, North America and Europe in the coming months

Prius chief engineer Koji Toyoshima told to Reuters that sales rises as its “hop,” “step” and “jump” phases. “We need to see that kind of volume with the plug-in during the upcoming ‘step’ phase, as we did with the second-generation conventional Prius, to achieve the momentum to get to the ‘jump’ phase,” he said.

Toyota stopped production of the first-generation plug-in last year, and has acknowledged that it sold poorly due to its limited range and relatively high price. The majority were sold in Japan and North America.

Hitting the 1 million sales mark would take the automaker a step closer towards its goal of making all its new vehicles virtually free of carbon emissions by 2050. Tighter regulations are also requiring Toyota and other automakers to produce and market more lower emissions vehicles.

Toyota encourages drivers to continue to experience the benefits that hybrid provides over diesel powered vehicles. Most efficient benefit of driving hybrid is up to 40% better fuel efficiency. Hybrid system has the unique ability to recycle energy other cars waste. Hybrids costs of maintenance are up to 30% less, due to a variety of reasons including the fact that hybrids don’t have a clutch and have less wear and tear on items like brake discs and tyres. Contrary to some beliefs, Toyota hybrids are a lot more affordable than people think, with prices starting from €15,000. Combining a petrol engine and an electric motor means that Toyota hybrids emit from just 70g/km, which is incredibly low for a family car. In addition, Toyota hybrid emits much less NOX pollution and particulate matter, giving us better air quality.

The Prius was at the beginning a favourite car among tech-obsessed drivers and environmentally aware owners, but now becoming world’s bestselling “eco” car.Like the conventional Prius, the plug-in operates on both a gasoline engine and a battery-powered motor, but it can travel double the distance — roughly 22 miles — in battery electric mode and can be recharged using a household socket.

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